James Conaway's remarkable bestseller delves into the heart of California's lush and verdant Napa Valley, also known as America's Eden. Long the source of succulent grapes and singular wines, this region is also the setting for the remarkable true saga of the personalities behind the winemaking empires. This is the story of Gallos and Mondavis, of fortunes made and lost, of dynasties and destinies. In this delightful, full-bodied social history, James Conaway charts the rise of a new aristocracy and, in so doing, chronicles the collective ripening of the American dream. More than a wine book, Napa is a must-read for anyone interested in our country's obsession with money, land, power, and prestige.

With roots set deep in California history, Napa's story reaches back to the Bear Flag Rebellion and earlier, to the first contact between Spanish explorers and the Wappo Indians. Through the founding of Spanish missions and the grants of ranchos by the Mexican government, Napa flourished under the various cultures that helped it become one of the west coast's most dynamic cities. As it bloomed into one of the most recognizable names on the American landscape, Napa's residents confronted issues of war and peace, of open space and sprawl.

Though world-famous for its miles of superior vineyards, Napa offers much more to the historian than its reputation as wine maker. Just an hour from San Francisco and Sacramento, the many towns of the Napa region are small enough to be walkable, friendly, and unique in design. The 240 images in this new book, with some photographs never before collected, demonstrate the architectural and historical diversity of this beautiful region, presented in walking-tour format. Through vintage photographs, the reader is pulled back in time to 1880 Napa, where a scant but diverse 4,000 residents reside. Of those people, only 163 were actually born in California, which accounts for the variety of architectural styles throughout the county. The multinational heritages of Irish, German, English, Canadian, Swiss, Scottish, French, Swedish, Mexican, Italian, and Chinese settlers are richly expressed through the architecture and landmarks of Napa's villages and towns. Captured here are the homes and structures that give the region its glow, including Napa's Churchill Manor, Greystone Winery in St. Helena, Magnolia Hotel in Yountville, and Stags Leap manor in the heart of the Stags Leap District.

Everything you need to know about America's favorite wine and food destination. You'll discover the most popular tourist attractions as well as those that locals try to keep secret. With this book, you won't miss a thing. Whether it's your first visit or your tenth, you'll find new and enjoyable things to see and do. Includes over 700 listings of lodging, spas, wineries, restaurants, parks and camping, hiking and biking, sightseeing, shopping, events, arts, entertainment and nightlife in all towns and areas of the Napa Valley. Readers will also find historical landmarks, a chronological history of Napa County, Napa County statistics, maps, photos, wedding planning contacts, kids' favorites, help on relocating to the valley, and even a section on Napa Valley trivia, including movies made in the valley, ship building, and the World War II era POW camp. There's also a special and very comprehensive 45-page wine supplement, with information on Napa Valley wines, vineyards, varietals, winemaking, wine tasting, understanding a wine label, a glossary of wine terms and pronunciations, and much more.

This is the first of its kind: an insider's food guide to that gourmand's paradise, the Napa Valley. Author and longtime resident Lori Lyn Narlock goes behind the scenes to discover where chefs shop, the best places to take a cooking class, or where to get a grapeseed oil massage. With complete details on the where, when, how, and how much, plus dozens of artful black-and-white photographs, this indispensible guide for food lovers even includes 50 recipes honoring the region's local specialties. It's a mouthwatering roster of the best that Napa has to offer.

Traces the history of the valley just north of the San Francisco Bay area, from its earliest indian residents and tent towns filled with gold miners to the flourishing agricultural center it has become today. Original.